8:46am Thursday 8th October 2009
Trojans will have one eye on yet another national cup run after defeating London 2 South-East side Bromley on their own turf, writes CLIVE DOWNTON.
The 16-10 RFU Intermediate Cup win in Kent comes on the back of two wins from three league games for newly-promoted Trojans, who reached the quarter-finals of the Senior Vase last season and got to the same stage of the Junior Cup the previous term.
Trojans head coach Barry Bridgman said: “I am pleased with a win, as are all of the players and support team. However, I am disappointed that we didn’t take more of the chances which were on offer.”
Bromley, supported by a large, vocal crowd, won the toss and elected to play uphill on their steep, sloping pitch.
The home side may have wished they were kicking the other way after being penned in their own half for almost 20 minutes, but Trojans could not turn pressure into points.
Some good runs from Bromley’s centres then put them in Trojans’ 22 and the Stoneham Lane outfit gave away a string of penalties, with one leading to an unconverted try for Bromley out wide.
A Ben Collins’ penalty got Trojans on the score sheet just before the half hour.
A minute later Trojans lost fly half James Pennington with a hip injury and winger Tom Stevenson, whose shin splints were aggravated by the hard ground. They were replaced by Bill Smith and Jaco Bruwer.
Trojans finished the half with the upper hand after their forwards drove over the line from a five-metre scrum and captain Tim Higham picked up and dived over.
Ten minutes into the second half Ben Collins kicked another penalty and, 23 minutes in, Chris Boyd finished off a handling move he had started when he crashed over the line.
Trojans were in charge of the match but committed a couple of unnecessary fouls and found themselves defending their own line from a series of determined thrusts.
The defence cracked on 40 minutes when a Bromley winger went over but his score was the last of the afternoon.
“We should have been out of sight by half-time,” added Bridgman. “I think we should have scored 25 points by the break and the final result really should have been in the 40s.”
“I am hoping that as the season progresses and the players become more confident we will start scoring many more of the points which we are creating.
“Generally, things are still going well. The players are buoyant, the mood of the whole club is positive and we are looking forward to the resumption of the league next week when we are away to London Cornish.”
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